Mensah takes third, Smith eighth at Senior Open

By KEVIN LEWIS Wayland Baptist University

Published 1:05 pm, Saturday, April 19, 2014

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Wayland Baptist’s Tamyra Mensah continues to prove her position among the best wrestlers in the nation, and teammate Vanessa Smith is starting down that same road. Mensah placed third and Smith eighth at the ASICS/Las Vegas Senior Open Wrestling Championships held Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Mensah and Smith were among five Wayland wrestlers who made it to the event, which Pioneer coach Aaron Meister called the premiere wrestling competition in the nation.

Mensah, the top seed in the 69-kilo class, won two of three matches Friday before prevailing twice by technical fall, 14-3 and 13-1, on Saturday to take third place.

Meister couldn’t say enough good things about Mensah, a junior.

“She’s the future not only of Wayland wrestling but USA wrestling,” the coach said. “Placing third shows her dedication and consistency to the sport. Her work ethic has really paid off, and she’s really proven to be one of the top wrestlers in the country.

“She setting a great example for our other wrestlers,” Meister continued. "Last year we only brought her, and this year we brought five wrestlers. She’s helping us grow as a program and putting Wayland on the map.”

Smith, after going 1-2 on Friday, was winning her first match on Saturday, 4-0. “She was wrestling really well, but got caught on her back and got pinned,” Meister said.

Smith, who was seeded ninth, finished in eighth place.

Wayland’s Tarkyia Mensah and Valerie Rosales also competed. They lost both of their matches on Friday in the 58-kilo class and the 69-kilo class, respectively. WBU’s Tamara Tillman also qualified for the Senior Open.

Next on the calendar for WBU wrestling is the FILA Body Bar Nationals on May 16 in Irving, at which some of Wayland’s younger wrestlers will compete. After that, the U.S. World Team Trials will be held May 30-June 1 in Madison, Wis. Tamyra Mensah, Tarkyia Mensah, Tillman and Smith all have qualified for that competition.

Meister, who along with assistant coach Garett Kiley captured men’s veterans division national titles in Vegas on Friday to qualify for the World Championships in Serbia, said it’s a great time for Wayland wrestling.

“I’m very excited to be coaching these ladies,” he said. “The sport of women’s wrestling is growing, and we’re continuously improving. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with these girls.”